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Thursday, October 12, 2023

American Officials Investigating Iran for Training Hamas Terrorists

NBC: American officials are investigating whether some of the Hamas militants who carried out the unprecedented attack on Israel received advanced training from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to current and former U.S. officials. They are also examining whether Hamas used recent Palestinian protests along the Gaza border fence as cover to place explosives that were later used to breach the Israeli barrier. The advanced training and placement of explosives, if confirmed, would be the latest example of the decades of support Iran has provided to Hamas. The attack, which was far more sophisticated than past Hamas operations, would not have been possible without the funding, weapons and training Iran has supplied to the militant group, current and former U.S. officials say (NBC). Reporter Paul Sperry: U.S. citizens killed: 14 and climbing. U.S. citizens captured, held hostage: 5 confirmed. U.S. citizens missing/unaccounted for: at least 20 (X). Ed Morrissey: Someone in the West Wing must realize that their scummy deal last month has proven indefensible, only they don’t want to just admit that Biden’s an idiot, nor do they want to leave the impression that Americans guarantees are worthless (HotAir). CNN: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader form emergency government as border buildup ramps up (X).

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Former Defense Minister Gantz Create Unity Party

Reuters: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense chief and centrist opposition party leader Benny Gantz have agreed to form an emergency government, a joint statement from Gantz’s National Unity party said on Wednesday. Gunmen from Islamist group Hamas invaded Israel from the Gaza Strip on Saturday in a surprise assault that killed at least 1,200 people, the deadliest Palestinian militant attack in Israeli history. Israel has responded with a massive bombardment of Gaza that has killed 1,055, and deployed thousands of troops around the enclave amid growing expectations it will launch a ground invasion to destroy Hamas. The sides agreed to form a war cabinet comprising Netanyahu, Gantz and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the statement said, and during the fighting with Hamas in Gaza will not promote any unrelated policy or laws (Reuters). Axios: As a former defense minister, Gantz’s role in the new unity government will significantly strengthen the security experience around the decision-making table. Since the Hamas attack on Saturday, Gantz and opposition leader Yair Lapid have called for the formation of a unity government (Axios).

New York Times Edits Published Material, Calls Hamas Terrorists “Gunmen”

Townhall: Another day, another instance of the liberal media being abjectly terrible at covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Every deflection has been mentioned, as the press remains allergic to torching a terrorist organization that just committed mass rape and slaughter against Israeli civilians. They also can’t condemn the kidnappings, the wholesale murder of entire families, and the beheading of children. They’re too busy making sure they’re not too mean to Hamas (Townhall). Governor DeSantis Press Secretary Jeremy Redfern: The NYTimes changed it from “terrorists” to “gunmen.” Wouldn’t want to upset the Hamas Caucus, I guess (X). Guy Benson: Question for the NYTimes editors on this one: What do we call the members of Hamas who literally decapitated babies? ‘Gunmen’ wouldn’t apply to those particular savage murders, would it? So what’s the stylebook on euphemizing that form of (:whispers:) terrorism (X)? Interesting how they issue changes to protect Hamas yet go all in when covering Israel’s retaliation. Reporter Noah Pollak: Given the utter horror of the Hamas attack I thought it would take another couple of days before the NYT put out the memo that it’s time to resume attacking Israel, but alas. I was insufficiently cynical (X).

First Shipment of American Aid Arrives in Israel

CNBC: The Israeli Defense Force said the first plane carrying U.S. armaments has arrived in southern Israel. “Our common enemies know that the cooperation between our militaries is stronger than ever, ” the IDF said. The al-Qassam armed wing of Palestinian militant group Hamas said it launched hundreds of missiles at the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, saying the attack was “in response to the displacement of civilians.” It came shortly after the 5 p.m. local time deadline Hamas had given Ashkelon residents to leave the premises had passed. On Tuesday, Israel’s military said it had regained control of the Gaza-Israel border after Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel unprecedented in scope and deadliness. Israel continues its airstrikes all over the enclosed territory of Gaza, and has ordered the complete cutting of water, electricity and food to the already impoverished and blockaded population of roughly 2.3 million people (CNBC). Israeli Defense Force: The first plane carrying U.S. armaments has since arrived at the Nevatim Airbase in southern Israel this evening. The cooperation between our militaries is a key part of ensuring regional security and stability in times of war (X). Axios: President Biden said Tuesday the U.S. “has Israel’s back” and will make sure it “can defend itself today, tomorrow as we always have.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to travel to Israel this week (Axios).

Northern Israel Being Probed by Hezbollah, Could Possibly Open Two Front War

Katie Pavlich: After being attacked by Iranian backed Hamas terrorists in the south over the past five days, Hezbollah has started its incursion into Israel in the north from the Lebanon border. The Israeli Defense Forces are now fighting a two front war. Hezbollah, also backed by Iran, has more than 200,000 rockets and missiles pointed at Israel. Hamas continues to fire thousands of rockets from the south, stretching Isreali’s Iron Dome defense system (Townhall). Richard Goldberg: Reminders if northern front opens. Hezbollah is a terrorist organization controlled by Iran. Hezbollah like Hamas uses human shields. Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad sit together in Beirut in a joint cell coordinated by Iran. Hezbollah threat much greater. Massive arsenal of precision guided munitions provided by Iran for years. Requires David’s Sling, not just Iron Dome, and overwhelming military response (X).

Biden’s Council to Stop Anti-Semitism Turns Out to be Anti- Semitic

Free Beacon: The Biden administration earlier this year tapped the Council on American-Islamic Relations for an initiative to curb anti-Semitism. This week, the anti-Semitic group and its leaders defended Hamas attacks that have killed more than 1,000 Jews. The White House announced in May that the Council on American-Islamic Relations would take part in its “National Strategy to Combat Anti-Semitism.” As part of the initiative, CAIR launched a nationwide tour “to educate religious minority communities” on how to “protect their houses of worship from hate incidents.” At the time, critics slammed the White House for partnering with CAIR, which has a history of anti-Semitism and was linked to Hamas in a federal terrorism case in 2007 (Free Beacon). Reporter Chuck Ross: Biden tapped the Council on American-Islamic Relations to fight against antisemitism. Now it’s defending the Hamas attack on Israel. CAIR’s leader tweeted “Israel=Russia” and called Israel a “settler colonial Apartheid state” (X).

As Israel Engages Existential Fight, Iranian-Backed Groups Threaten U.S. Forces

Reuters: Powerful Iraqi and Yemeni armed groups aligned with Iran have threatened to target U.S. interests with missiles and drones if Washington intervenes to support Israel in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza that already shows signs of expanding to further fronts. The comments come amid strong support by the United States for Israel’s response to the attacks and a U.S. pledge to rapidly provide additional munitions to Israel and deploy a carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean. The United States currently has 2,500 troops in Iraq – and an additional 900 in neighbouring Syria – on a mission to advise and assist local forces in combating Islamic State, which in 2014 seized swathes of territory in both countries (Reuters). National Review: Just days after Hamas poured across the Gaza-Israel border on Saturday, Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon began firing rockets into Northern Israel, widening the conflict into a multi-front war. Then, on Tuesday, an Iranian-backed militia near the Golan Heights began launching rockets into Israel from Syria, prompting return fire from the Israeli Defense Forces. The new fronts threaten to draw Israeli men and materiel away from Gaza, where the bulk of the fighting has taken place since Saturday’s invasion (National Review).

Putin Weighs in on Israel’s War with Hamas

Fox News: Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed Tuesday the ongoing, violent conflict between Israel and Hamas following a series of terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas. Putin made the remarks in a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani. “I think many will agree with me that this is a clear example of the failure of U.S. policy in the Middle East,” Putin said at the meeting. Putin blamed the Hamas terror attacks on U.S. interventionism, claiming the U.S. military regulated and managed tensions between the two territories without concern for the long-term wishes of Palestinians (Fox News). CNBC: The Kremlin warned Wednesday that the Israel-Hamas conflict has the hallmarks of a “hot war” right now and could potentially be “very dangerous,” especially on a humanitarian level (CNBC).

“National Students for Justice in Palestine” Organization to Hold “day of resistance” on College Campuses

They are being inspired by terrorist organizations to sow chaos. Fox News: The national chapter of the National Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) posted a “call to action” on social media and asked their student chapters to hold demonstrations at their colleges in support of the Palestinians. The National SJP’s Instagram account called for their student groups to mobilize a “day of resistance” in support of the Palestinians following the terrorist attacks in Israel carried out by Hamas. Colleges and Universities are holding a demonstration, some are calling it a “teach in,” in support of the Palestinians (Fox News). National Review: A group of 44 House Republicans sent a letter to Department of Education secretary Miguel Cardona urging the federal agency to protect Jewish college students in light of Thursday’s “national day of resistance” (National Review). Daily Caller: Former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal said in a recorded statement that Muslims worldwide must rise up and wage “jihad” and sacrifice their “blood and souls” in mass protests on Friday. “We must head to the squares and streets of the Arab and Islamic world on Friday,” Meshaal said, Reuters reported Wednesday. Meshaal currently heads Hamas’ diaspora office in Qatar (Daily Caller).

10.

Student Scores on ACT Lowest in 30 Years Showing They’re Not Prepared for College

CBS: High school students’ scores on the ACT college admissions test have dropped to their lowest in more than three decades, showing a lack of student preparedness for college-level coursework, according to the nonprofit organization that administers the test. Scores have been falling for six consecutive years, but the trend accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students in the class of 2023 whose scores were reported Wednesday were in their first year of high school when the virus reached the U.S. The average ACT composite score for U.S. students was 19.5 out of 36. Last year, the average score was 19.8 (CBS). New York Post: Just 21% of students taking this year’s exam met all four of ACT’s College Readiness Benchmarks, while the percentage of students meeting none of the benchmarks reached a record high of 43% (New York Post).